Gas Turbines - Sudheer Siddapureddy sudheer@iitp.ac.in Department of Mechanical Engineering
Auxiliary Devices Other components/arrangements Intercoolers between the compressors Reheat combustion chambers between the turbines Heat-exchanger which uses some of the energy in the turbine exhaust gas to preheat the air entering the CC Advantages of these refinements Increase the power out and η of the plant At the expense of added complexity, weight and cost How to link together? Affects the maximum overall η thermal Variation of power output o One arrangement for varying load at constant speed o Another for driving a ship s propeller, Power (Speed) 3
Open & Closed Cycles Broad classification 1. Open cycle arrangement 2. Closed cycle arrangement Open cycle arrangements Fresh atmospheric air is drawn into the circuit continuously Energy is added by the combustion of fuel in the working fluid Products of combustion expanded through turbine and exhausted into the atmosphere Most common Closed cycle arrangements Usually, working fluid is not spoiled Heater or a gas boiler Similar to a steam turbine
Single Shaft Arrangement with Regeneration
Single Shaft Arrangement with Regeneration When? Fixed speed & load conditions (peak load power generation) Immediate response to change in load is not important η at part load is not important Heat exchanger Improves η thermal, for a given size of the plant Power output reduces by 10% due to pressure losses in HE Reduces the fuel Advantage only at low r
Single Shaft Arrangement Alternative Arrangement When? Possibility of corrode or erode the blades Availability of dirty fuel (pulverized coal)
Twin Shaft Arrangement When? Flexibility in operation Pipeline compressor, marine propeller, road vehicle Advantages Easy start Disadvantages Electrical shedding leads to overspeeding HPT, HPC at off loads?
Series Flow Twin Shaft Arrangement
Parallel Flow Twin Shaft Arrangement
Improving Performance Performance can be improved How? 1. Reducing the work of compression 2. Increasing the work of expansion For a given r, Power per unit quantity of working fluid T inlet Compression in stages with intercooling Expansion in stages with reheating the gas to the max. permissible temperature
Parallel Flow with Intercooling & Reheating
High Thermal Efficiency High pressure ratios are required How? η axial > η centrifugal compressor Axial compressors - instability at off-design conditions Vibrations even at startup Compressor exit is designed on the basis of flow and density ρ exit >> ρ inlet At low speeds ρ exit falls More dangerous at r > 8 in one compressor Compressors at different rotational speeds Mechanically independent needs individual turbines
Twin Spool Arrangement
Multistage Compressor High r or η thermal can also be safely achieved in a single compressor with several stages of variable stator blades
Closed Cycle Gas Turbine with Cogeneration System
Closed Cycles - Advantages Advantages No Erosion of turbine blades Continuous filtration of working fluid is not there Once at startup Gases other than air can be used Cheaper fuels can be used Maintain r but increase pressure (there by increasing ρ) Reduces size of the plant for a given output Change the pressure level for dynamic control However, maximum cycle temperature maintained No change in overall efficiency
Closed Cycles - Disadvantages Disadvantages We are again back to steam turbine mechanism Bulky heating system (gas boiler) Leak proof of the system Large capacity of cooler is necessary Only for stationary power plants
Aircraft Propulsion Turbojet Turboprop
Aircraft Propulsion Turboshaft Turbofan (or bypass)
Industrial Applications Compared with Aircraft gas turbine: The life of an industrial plant is of 11.5 years Size and weight is not of much importance The kinetic energy at turbine exhaust is wasted
Industrial Applications Advantages over other Power plants Compact No cooling tower like that in a Steam Turbine Complete packages, built, tested and transported Not often erected on site
Large Gas Turbines Manufacturers Alstom General Electric Siemens-Westinghouse
Siemens, SGT-750, 39 MW
0.25 MW Steam turbine (right), AC generator (left) Tube condenser is set beneath the turbine
Advantages of Gas Turbines Over Reciprocating engines High η mechanical due to less friction Better balancing Low cost than multi-cylinder petrol or diesel engines Power to weight to ratio External shape and size Cheaper fuels: benzene, powdered/pulverized coal Less lubrication Minimum maintenance Low operating pressures High operation speeds Silent, smokeless exhaust (abundant air)
Disadvantages of Gas Turbines Over Reciprocating engines Poor η overall Most of the energy goes in feeding compressor T max limitation How to cool the blades? How to start the engine? Complicated
Environmental Issues Jet exhaust was noisy but ignored for military applications Noise (Jet velocity) 8 Turbofan - Maintain thrust with low velocity but at higher airflow Gas turbines for non-aircraft applications offer relatively cleanburning power plant Main combustion product of any hydrocarbon fuel is CO 2 Global warming Greenhouse effect Improve engine efficiencies to burn less fuel Alternative fuels
70 MW Combined Cycle Plant Located between two hospitals and adjacent to a prime residential area